Experts See Clinton as Sex Addict / But others say it might just be an isolated affair

Edward W. Lempinen, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am PDT, Wednesday, August 19, 1998

He admitted another extramarital affair, he has deceived his wife and colleagues, his job hangs in the balance -- and the pattern, psychologists said yesterday, suggests that President Clinton has a problem with compulsive sexual behavior.

In a series of interviews, psychologists were clearly divided: Some said that Clinton's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky reflects a character flaw common throughout human history. Some said he was simply dumb.

Many, however, said the evidence is mounting that Clinton is a sex addict -- one who repeatedly engages in high-risk, self-destructive sexual behavior and then goes to great lengths to hide it.

"Why do people shop until they spend more money than they have?" asked Bernie Zilbergeld, an Oakland psychologist who specializes in sexuality. "Why do people go to Las Vegas or the race track and lose the house?

"A lot of people are driven to do things that, from the outside, just don't make any sense. There is compulsive behavior -- some people call it addiction -- which we don't understand very well."

The analysis may meet doubt or even ridicule in a public wary of talk-show hyperbole. But like much of the public, many psychologists were struggling yesterday to understand why a man with power, prestige and an apparently loving family would risk it all to have a casual sexual relationship with an intern.

"Maybe he's just had a couple of affairs -- many people do," said Jana Frances-Fischer, a Georgian with advanced degrees in counseling and psychology. "It's fine to think there is a certain moral order to the world. But human behavior dictates otherwise."

Many come from dysfunctional families. Clinton's stepfather was a sometimes violent alcoholic. Many are driven and highly successful executives. Clinton fits that profile, too.

And many, said Cooper, have had "serial affairs" outside of marriage. What are they seeking?

Not merely sex, say the psychologists. And not love.

"If you have an affair in a moment of weakness, that's one thing," Cooper said. "But if you are constantly scamming and searching for someone to get involved with . . . that's a whole different ball of wax."

Then sex is like a "fix," some psychologists said, a shot of synthetic love that seems to ease the pain of childhood abandonment and loss. But it never lasts.

Another key criterion is denial. And again, experts said, Clinton seems to qualify.

Said Cooper: "If you're a person of prominence in society, to think that you're not going to get caught with 40 reporters going through your trash every day -- that's what we call denial."

Other psychologists suggested that Clinton's denial may have been compounded by feelings of grandiosity. With the power of the presidency, they said, he may have felt bulletproof.

But assuming Clinton remains in office, "embarrassment and humiliation" may keep him on his best behavior, said Murray Garfinkel, a psychologist with a private practice in Great Neck, N.Y.

"I do not think he can change his character," Garfinkel said, "but I do think he can control his behavior."

Cooper suggested that sex addicts can reform if they have a rigorous program of therapy. But as with alcoholism or drug addiction, he said, those close to the addict must stop accepting the behavior.

"One of the worst things you can do is stand by your partner," he said. "There needs to be some kind of intervention. You need to tell the person that they need treatment."